DC City Council: Fight Youth Crime, Not Youth

A noisemaker called the "Mosquito" was recently installed in Washington, DC's Chinatown neighborhood, which emitted an obnoxious high-pitched sound targeting the hearing range of 13-25 year-olds. The Mosquito was installed in response to local shopkeepers' complaints that fights, theft, and drug dealings related to the loitering were deterring shoppers.

The Mosquito was removed after members of the National Youth Rights Association filed a complaint, but the problem of large numbers of youth in the Chinatown neighborhood with nowhere to go still remains.

Tell D.C.'s City Council to be proactive in looking for a solution. Instead of draconian measures like the Mosquito, tell Council members to consider proven options for lowering youth crime.

A noisemaker called the "Mosquito" was recently installed in Washington, DC's Chinatown neighborhood, which emitted an obnoxious high-pitched sound targeting the hearing range of 13-25 year-olds. The Mosquito was installed in response to local shopkeepers' complaints that fights, theft, and drug dealings related to the loitering were deterring shoppers.

Although the Mosquito has been removed, the problem of large numbers of youth in the Chinatown neighborhood with nowhere to go still remains. It is illegal to be outside after 11 pm for D.C. residents under 17. The D.C. curfew intends to reduce youth crime but there is no evidence it accomplishes that goal. Instead of stopping crime, it needlessly punishes and discriminates against young people.

D.C.'s City Council must be proactive in looking for a solution. Instead of draconian measures like the Mosquito and the curfew, I am writing to ask you to consider proven options for lowering youth crime. Please create a plan to address the issue that young people in that neighborhood have no place to congregate, and create a constructive solution.